Fibroid tumors are the most common form of tumors among women worldwide. Fibroid tumors, also known as leiomyomas, myomas or fibromas, can have symptoms including heavy menstrual bleeding, painful cramps or abdominal pain if the tumors grow large enough to crowd surrounding organs. The condition can also be occur without symptoms (asymptomatic tumors).

Fibroids grow more vigorously when the balance between estrogen and progesterone is disturbed. Specifically, when progesterone declines too much, and estrogen becomes too dominant, the excess estrogen feeds the growth of fibroid tumors.

Are there any diets that help to reduce fibroid tumors? Are there foods which shrink fibroid tumors?

Based research studies, here are the foods which have been shown to be effective in reducing the size or the number of fibroid tumors:

1. Green Tea Reduces Fibroids. In a landmark study conducted by the University of Firat's School of Medicine, in Turkey, researchers discovered that antioxidant compounds in green tea --- catechins known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECCG) reduce the size and number of fibroid tumors in Japanese quail hens. These hens were chosen as subjects because they experience almost identical fibroid tumor on their ovaries as do women.

After ECCG supplementation for 12 months, both the number of tumors and the size of tumors in the oviducts of the birds decreased by 50%. (Read more about the health benefits of green tea.)

2. Tomatoes Decrease Fibroid Tumors. The same team of researchers who conducted the research on green tea extracts also conducted a similar experiment using tomato powder. The results were equally impressive. Tomato powder shrank the size of existing fibroid tumors or completely eliminated a number of tumors.

Tomatoes contain several compounds that the researchers believe helped to shrink the fibroid tumors, including lycopene, malondialdehyde (MDA), carotenoids, and vitamins C, E, and A.

4. Low inflammatory foods. Foods such as fish with omega-3 fatty acids and green leafy vegetables which lower the levels of internal inflammation throughout the body also help to reduce your risk of developing fibroid tumors. Inflammatory conditions are a pre-condition to the development of most tumors, whether benign or cancerous. (Read more about foods that fight cancer.)

5. Flax seeds. Flax seeds, buckwheat, millet and rye contain compounds called lignans which help to restore a healthy balance between estrogen and progesterone in your body and reduce the size of tumors.

Update:

Citrus Fruits Lowers Your Risk for Fibroids

Fruits and vegetables --especially citrus fruits --- may have a powerful inhibitory effect on uterine fibroids. A 2011 study from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University studied the eating and health profiles of 22,583 women. Comparing the women's intake of fruits and vegetables with their incidence of uterine fibroids, the researchers discovered that those women who ate 4 or daily servings of fruits and vegetables had the lowest number of fibroid tumors.

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